Moscow’s Luna-25 lander has achieved a significant milestone by successfully entering the Moon’s orbit, marking Russia’s first lunar mission in nearly half a century. The Russian space agency Roscosmos confirmed the accomplishment, signifying a revival of the country’s space ambitions, reminiscent of its pioneering Soviet-era space program.
This achievement is particularly historic for Russia, as it marks the first time an automatic station has been positioned in lunar orbit in the contemporary era of the country. The event occurred at 12:03 pm Moscow time (0903 GMT), and the spokesperson for Roscosmos stated that all systems of the Luna-25 are functioning well, with stable communication established.
Having been launched on a Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East last Friday, the Luna-25 lander weighs approximately 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds). It is planned to orbit at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the Moon’s surface. The ultimate goal of the mission is to execute a landing next Monday north of the Boguslawsky crater located on the lunar south pole.
Over the course of the next year, the lander is expected to remain stationed on the Moon, conducting crucial tasks such as sample collection and soil analysis. Notably, cameras already integrated into the lander have captured initial images of both the Earth and Moon from its space vantage point.
This achievement arrives at a time of uncertainty for Russia’s ongoing collaboration with Western counterparts in the field of space exploration. While Moscow persists with its actions in Ukraine, there are concerns about the continuation of Russia’s cooperation with the West in space. Despite the European Space Agency’s decision to halt cooperation with Russia over its actions in Ukraine, the Luna-25 mission demonstrates Russia’s determination to advance its lunar exploration plans independently.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Mint
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